When my children were babies, I would spend hours by their crib, watching them in their slumber, adoring everything about them. I was so attuned to them, I could hear them breathe from the next room.

As they grew, I lost that magic, or so I thought. After a recent separation from them, I was delighted to find myself under their spell once again, captivated by the awe and wonder that is them.

This poem originally was published in Poems on Life - Family Poems

While You Were Sleeping
While you were sleeping,
I sat by your bed.
I watched you
as you smiled through your dreams.

I traced your perfect shell ear,
Touched every curl
On your little head.

I tried to sleep
But the sound of your breathing
Drew me back to your room.

I couldn't resist
The magic which tugged
At my heartstrings
And brought me to your side.

I settled on the floor
Once again.
Back against the wall,
Holding your tiny hand in mine.

While you were sleeping
I fell in love with you all over again.
58 Visitor Comments (from the Voting form)
  • morreen
    brillient every mother will identifie with this thankyou xx mo
  • Stacey
    This poem is absolutely the most beautiful poem, about the wonderus glimmer of that which binds us to another soul.
  • andrea
    This just touched me while reading brought a tear to my eyes, happy memories of my children now all grown. Especially today my yougest turned 20. Just wonderful and touching.
  • sally
    very good indeed
  • Barb
    I too watched my little ones while they slept and enjoyed every moment. Your poem made me cry but warmed my heart.
  • Gena Maree
    This is so beautiful . I remember watching my three sons sleep and I love them just as much today as when they were babies . There is no love like the love for a Child Keep a Smile on your face and a song in your heart . Gena
  • Brown
    I likedthis poem also. I liked it because my sister had troubles breathingbecause she was an eraily baby.
  • Natasha
    This poem has touched every goosebump in my body, There has been so many a night i have crept into my beautiful little boys' room just to watch his every breath, thank you for reminding me of the joy he brings to my nights and days. x
  • reyna
    This really touches a mother's heart
  • LINDA
    This reminds me of when my children were little and I would stay up at night watching them sleep. It's a wonderful poem.
  • Shannon
    I really like this poem because thats how i am with my baby sister still to this day there is 16 years between us yea i said that right lol she is 5 years old now and i'm 21 and still everynight when i take her to bed i just lay there and wonder how god created such a wonderful humanbeing she is my world and truly a blessing. now i'm sure if we were just a few years apart i would be ready to pull my hair out, but she is a late one and well worth it. I hope to read more of your poems; you have a special talent don't let it go to waste.
  • jeannie
    i founf my self doing the very same thing when 2 older childern were babies and i still do it with my 3td child and now i still watch all three children sleep
  • sibongiseni
    simply and implies message perfectly
  • Stacy
    So True It was very touching and I can't count how many times I've sat on the floor up against the wall to watch them sleep. wondering what they are dreaming an what the world has instore for them. you put how perfect they are in words
  • Betty
    i liked this poem alot because it was so sweet. im going to use it for school. keep up the good work! :)
  • Foong Nee
    Very nice poems, it sure touch every mother's heart.
  • TINA
    THIS WAS SO TOUCHING BECAUSE I DO THIS WITH MY KIDS, I PRINTED SOME OUT AND FRAMED THEM AND HUNG THEM IN MY KIDS ROOMS.
  • Jeni
    This is how I feel with my daughter just last night. So peaceful so full of tranquil when she isnt having her two year fits, ohh how I love her slumber
  • Laura
    This poem is simply Beautiful! I have no children of my own, but I have a step-son who is 2, I met him when he was only a few months old, and everytime he comes to stay with me and his daddy, that is what I've always done! And will be what I do again in 7 months time, when I've given birth to my baby, Thank you for this poem! It's beautiful and I love it, and like most of the other people I also have this framed in my step-sons room
  • Sandra
    My 17yr old son just left home, i cried like a baby when reading this poem, i loved it.
  • kylie
    i feel what u are saying my nephew means the world to me we are especially close since i can't have kids of my own
  • joe
    i think that this is one of the best poems that i have read that is about a mother and a child
  • Kelly
    Your poem really touched me I have tears in my eyes just thinking about how you must of felt. I have a nine month old son and can really relate
  • D
    This is a poem only a mother could relate to. It is totally and undoubtably written from the heart! Thanks for sharing!
  • Jeanne
    I have three grown children and only a "true mother" would indeed understand in our hearts as we have watched our children from birth to adulthood! It is an experience that only moms out there could only recognize in their hearts!
  • Michelle
    I really like poem, that is how i feel about all my children.
  • MELINDA
    I THINK TARA YOU HAVE BECAME A NEW FAVORITE OF MINE. KEEP UP THE AWESOME POEMS.
  • joyce
    REMEMBER WHEN WE GOT OUR BEAUTIFUL 18 MON OLD DTR. WONDERFUL POEM
  • karen
    Beauitful and hits anyone with heart thank-you so very much GOD_BLESS YOU
  • Sally
    Beautiful!
  • sharon
    I had to vote on this poem, as i read it i thought about my two kids. This is what i used to do when they were babies. This poem brought back those memories for me. As i was in an abusive marriage for 13years. I would go into my kids rooms and hold there little hands and pray to god, everthing will be ok. My kids now 16 and 14, are my hero's. Because they kept me going. And on January 29, 2001 i finally took my kids and got out. This poem, i thank you from the bottom of my heart for. I printed this poem off and put one in each of my kids bibles, so they would have something to look back on, of what i uased to do, and how much i love them. I rate this poem #1 to me. It was ritten the best ever. You get 5 stars from me on this. Thank-you
  • NICOLE
    THE FIRST TIME I HAD READ THIS I CRIED AND NOW I HAVE IT FRAMED ON MY DAUGHTERS' WALL AND STILL HAVE A TEAR IN MY EYE EVERY TIME I LOOK AT IT, THANK YOU!
  • Michelle
    This poem brought tears to my eyes. I truly loved it! I wrote a poem called "A Child's Dream". and in this poem I wrote about a child sleeping. and a mother being by her/his side. An inspiration I had watching my daughter as a baby, sleeping so peacefully. Poems like this bring me back to her baby years. Thank You SO MUCH for sharing this poem. God Bless!
  • Mairianne
    My son is going to be one on friday and i will be writning this poem in his birthday card, so when he is older he can look back on it and know exactly how i feel about him .
  • Becca
    this is a sweet poem. As i am only 16 and too young for children at the moment i don't know that exact feeling but i imagine it would be more grater than the feeling i got from watching my cousins daughter Katelyn sleep when she was a baby.
  • Honeira
    This is exactly what motherhood is about. Is amazing how a child can make you feel. Is the best feeling a woman can experience. I love the poem
  • Katrina
    I really enjoyed your poem. I have three beautiful children 4,8 and 13. I visit them nightly just to remind myself how lucky I am to have them. Again terrific!
  • Tracey
    A very lovely poem. exactly what i do when my beautiful nephew sleeps at my house. excellent!
  • Bill
    Every parent will recognise what Tara is writing about. Ain't kids amazing?
  • Lauren
    I Like this poem it reminds me of how i was there for my niece how i would lay there watching her sleep she means everything to me
  • DIPIN
    simply amzing. hte blending of words togthing together has made the poem without doubt the best and the most heart touching poem
  • Reina
    I really liked this poem because being a mother my self I can defenately relate to it.
  • Jasmina
    I think this is a really great poem! Right away when i read it, it just felt so great! That poem thouched my heart so much! I just have one thing to tell u keep on doing these great poems!
  • barbara
    this poem touch my heart, it is so true about mother feelings .
  • rosemary
    I really enjoyed the poem and I think that my daughter will to
  • Frani
    Very beautiful. I have two children of my own and still watch them sleep, it's the best feeling in the world.
  • Debbie
    This poem was beautiful I have children also and i related to every word. So yes this poem is 10 out of 10.
  • Danielle
    This poem absolutely came from my point of view. You are a great poet keep it up! Thaanks for the poem that you wrote.
  • Jasbir
    It's a beautiful and a touching poem. I have a 4-year old daughter myself and I can understand how it feels. Children always look the most beautiful when they are sound asleep and not up to some prank!
  • Joe
    I thought that the poem was very good and i really liked it. it sounded like what my dad used to do to me when i was little.
  • jayson
    i luv this poem. I like how the way she or he stays next to his or her little one watching every inch what he or she is doing. for a father i have experience that but sometimes i can't because my son's always with her grandma and grandpa when i come home from work and sometimes he's with her mother sleeping in her arms on the floor. i give this poem 100
  • Gayle
    Simple and sweet.
  • Anon
    your words make me miss my sons so much.
  • Sandy
    I have two boys near grown now but I still remember when they were babies and I watched them sleep. Wondering what their dreams were about. I miss that a lot but someday I will see their babies and watch them sleep too. Being a grandmother is a great dream of mine.
  • alice
    As a mother of a new baby boy I could really relate! A beautiful poem, brought tears to my eyes.especially the last line.
  • Sandra
    wonderful poem, it recently happened to me. Thank you.
  • Alison
    BEAUTIFUL - IT BROUGHT A TEAR TO MY EYE! EVERY WORD WAS SO TRUE... CHILDREN ARE SO BEAUTIFUL.
  • artist
    my daughter who is now 16. Says it's wierd that I watch her when shes sleeping sometimes. I copied this poem to give to her maybe now she'll understand. thanks you put into words what I couldn't explain.

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